Highett Football Club

The Highett Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club located in the southern suburbs of Melbourne. The club participates in the Southern Football League.

History

Highett joined the Federal Football League in 1929 where it played in the junior section. In 1934 it entered a side in second division. For 3 years (1936-37-38), the Bulldogs were runner-up then in 1939 it finally won the Premiership its one and only.

The run of success ended in 1945 when it became a senior section club. From then on the record was not good - 405 games with 102 wins, 299 losses, 4 ties and the wooden spoon on 6 occasions.

In 1971, the club finally won the Premiership, the clubs first senior flag. Season 1972 resulted in another Grand Final birth only to be beaten by Noble Park. The 1973 season proved to be the most outstanding year the club experienced, fielding senior, reserve, under 18 and under 16 teams in the Federal League and three teams in the Chelsea Junior League (under 10's, 12's and under 14's), with 5 out of 7 entering the finals, resulting in a senior and reserve premiership and the under 14's finishing runners up. The 1974 season again proved to be a remarkable achievement winning our second flag in a row.

1980 saw increasing costs and a lack of success there was a big possibility the club would have to disband, however despite their bad financial situation, the community rallied to keep the club going. The club transferred to the South East Suburban Football League after the Federal Football League dissolved in 1981.

The club continued to struggle - as did the neighbouring Highett West Football Club (the Kookaburras). After many weeks of negotiations the clubs amalgamated and became known as the Highett District Bulldogs, wearing the Highett West colour of the blue and white hoops.

The new Highett Districts Football Club began in 1989 in the first division of the South East Suburban Football League. An exodus of key players meant the merged club again began to struggle on the field. By 1995, the club had tumbled into the third division.

In 1997, once again facing extinction due to mounting financial difficulties, the Highett Districts Football Club, again became the Highett Football Club and changed its jumpers to an original red, white and blue jumper with a Bulldog image on the front. A successful restructure of the club has resulted in the Bulldogs clawing its way back into first division.

Junior Club

The Highett Junior Football Club was established in 2001 after the Moorabbin United Junior Football Club (known as the Bears) decided to align themselves with a senior club in order to provide a developmental continuity for their young players to progress through to the open-age ranks. The junior club fields seven under age teams (from under 9s to under 17s) each weekend in Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League.

enior Premierships

* Federal Football League
** 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979
* Southern Football League
** 1996 (3rd Division), 2004 (2nd Division)

References

* [http://www.highettfc.com.au/ Highett Footy Club homepage]